Educational toy device



March 2, 1965 M. J. RUDERIAN EDUCATIONAL TOY DEVICE Filed Oct. 25, 1962 INVENTOR. MAX. J. RUDERIAN BY ppmwa 4 TTORIVEYS Fla. 2. FIG.3.

United States Patent 3,171,656 EDUCATIONAL TOY DEVICE Max J. Ruderian, 613 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, (Ialif. Filed Oct. 25, 1962, Ser. No. 233,089 6 Claims. (Cl. 273142) This invention generally relates to an educational toy device and more particularly concerns a self-assembled or do-it-yourselt type education toy which may be readily constructed from conveniently available materials and whichin one formmay be embodied in the sidewalls of a cereal box, pancake box, or the like as a premium item.

Although the invention will be described from the standpoint of its application as a permiurn item or cutout from the sidewalls of a box, it will be appreciated that the toy device of the present invention may be formed in more permanent form from plastic, wood, heavy cardboard or the like, either in a final assembled form or in a construction lending itself readily to assembly by the user.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an educational toy device which is adaptable to a variety of educational type games, for example, of the matching type in which states are matched with capitals, inventors are matched with inventions, paintings are matched with artists, and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved educational toy device which may be used in conjunction with games of chance in a manner similar to roulette, for example.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an educational toy device which may be readily assembled from a limited number of parts and yet which is susceptible of inexpensive fabrication from relatively lightweight cardboard such that it may be imprinted on the sidewalls of a box or the like in the form of cutouts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an educational toy device which is extremely economical to manufacture, which is simple to operate and yet which conforms with the aforegoing objects.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an educational toy device which is so constructed as to retain a childs attention and yet of a design which requires only a minimum amount of skill to assemble and operate.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are generally achieved by providing an educational toy device which comprises a first annular flat member and a second annular fiat member. The second annular flat member is substantially congruent to the first annular member and is designed to be super-imposed thereover.

A disc-shaped member is designed to be retained between the first annular member and the second annular member, and some form of cooperating locking means retains the disc-shaped member between the annular members in such a manner that the disc member may be rotated within the annular members,

In this regard, a plurality of discrete markings are provided on the disc-shaped member and other markings are provided on the annular members, whereby according to the disposition of the disc-shaped member within the annu lar members, certain markings on the disc-shaped member will be aligned with particular markings or indicia on the annular shaped members such that various educationall games and games of chance may be played.

3,171,656 Patented Mar. 2, 1965 A better understanding of the present invention will be had by reference to the drawings, showing merely two illustrative embodiments thereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the educational toy device of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view of a part of the educational toy device of FIGURE 1 in its form prior to partial assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a view of another part of the educational toy device of FIGURE 1 prior to assembly thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the educational toy device of FIGURE 1 in its assembled form; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective View of another embodiment of the educational toy device of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE l a first annular member 10 substantially congruent and super-imposed over a second annular member 11. The annular members 10 and 11 are connected together at a point 12 which forms a rectilinear section. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 2, the annular members may be embodied in flat form on the sidewalls of a cereal box or the like from which they may be cut out to the shape of FIG- URE 2 and folded back over to the form shown in FIG- URE 1. As shown, each of the annular members defines a central circular open portion of diameter considerably greater than the width of the material surrounding the open portion.

Of course, as heretofore mentioned, members 10 and 11 may also be formed of other materials, for example, plastic, heavy cardboard, wood, or the like.

The members 10 and 11 are provided with finger holding tabs 13 and 14, respectively. In order to couple the members 10 and 11 together, the member 11 (in one form) is provided with a tab 15 designed to fit within a slot 16 of the member 19 in the manner as shown in FIG URE 1. Similarly, and conversely, the member 10 is provided with a tab 17 designed to fit within a slot 18 in the member 11. Desirably, the member 10 is provided with sector markings 19 to enclose certain printing or indicia, numbers, or the like for a purpose which will hereafter be explained.

A circular member is designed to be received between the annular members It and 11 and exposed through the central circular open portions thereof. As shown, the circular member may comprise a pair of superimposed discs 20 and 21 also congruent one with respect t6 the other. The discs 20 and 21 may be formed from fiat cutouts joined together in the same manner as the annular members 10 and 11, for example as shown in FIGURE 3. In order to lock the discs 20 and 21 when they are positioned in super-imposed relationship, a tab 22 may be provided on the disc 20 which locks into an appropriate slot 23 on the disc 21 as shown clearly in the views of FIG- URES 1 and 3.

In assembling the toy device in the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1-4, the annular members 10 and 11 are folded over at 12 and locked into position with the tab 15 fitting into the slot 16, as shown in FIGURE 1. Thereafter, the disc-shaped members 20 and 21 are locked together with the tab 22 fitting through the slot 23 and the super-imposed discs are then placed between the annular members It) and 11. Thereupon, the tab 17 is locked into the slot 18 so that the discs 20 and 21 may be rotated 7 within the'annular members 10 and 11 and retained therein by the locking tabs 15 and 17 in cooperation with the connected flat portion '12. The operators fingers may be used to grasp the tabs 13 and 14. With such a construction, the center discs and 21 may be spun or otherwise rotated to different positions to play games of chance or educational games.

; The games are played in the same manner as with ap- 51mins other educational toy de'vice fiieaoctober 11,

19 62, identified by Serial No. 229,871, entitled Dual Purpose Educational Toy Device, 'now Patent No. 3,136,552. Towards this end, the sectorma'rkings 24 (see FIGURES l la'n'd' t) may be provided on the discs 20 and 21 rope aligned with theappropriate sector markings 19 on 'the annular inemb ers 10 and 11. In this :reg'ard, there'would also be imarkings 19 provided on the back of annular m embejrll and also on the bottom disc 21 :(the'seniarkings not being shown in these drawings since they are the same as the markings 1'9 a nd '24, respectively); If desired, a window 'zs'ma' be provided in the annular member 10 to align itself withseparate lettering, indicia, or numerals in the circumferential portion of the discs 20 and 21suchthat three variables may be us'ed: the markings on the discs 20 and 21 on the exposed portions thereofjthe markings on the discs and 21 on the concealed portions thereof; and the markings on the annular member sltland 11. Thus, for example, an English word might be employed between the sectors 24 on the discs 20 and 21 an equivalent wordrnight be set forth between lemma of tabs and slots'are concerned. I

It will further be evident that certlain changes and modifications rnay be made in themann er which the discs are retained within the annular members.

Thus, there is --shown'in FIGURES another embodi ment wherein theeducationaltoy'device. of the present 'inve'ntion includes an annular member 26 congruent 'to "and super impose'd over another; annular member 27.

The annular member 26 is'provided with tab 28'designed to inter-lock in a slot 29 provided in'theannular member 27. Fingert'abs (not shown) maybe appropriately provided.

Instead of proi iding locking tabs equivaierit to tabs 15 and 17 as in the construction of FlGUREl-in this embodinient'the super-nnpes e discniemb'ers "30 and 31 are provided with radially inwardly disposed'project'ing tabs 32, 33, and 34. The tabs 3234 are partial cutouts formed in the disc 30 which. are bent upwardly outof the plane thereof on a given circumference designed to be aligned with the circumference 'of the inner diameter of the annular member 26., e 7

Thus, the" discs 30 and 31, afterjbeing super-imposed one oyer the other, "are positioned between the annular m mb nd am thst b en a h i n tla pt n u r m r 2. and sa fo ed b cki e over whereby the disc members 30 and 31 are journalled 'between'the annular members 26 and 27. Of course,

similar, tabs are, ,provided on theexposed side of the disc member 31'which are designed'to cooperate with the inner periphery offthe'low'erannular member 27 "It is apparent ithatv with the latter construction, only a "single locking 'tab 28 and cooperating slot 29 v need be "pr'o'vided'sincethetabs 3234 and the equivalent tabs 'onthe exposed side of disc member 31 serve to journal 'and'lock th'e di'sc's 30-31 in position between the annular members 26 and 27. V

, {lhe particular markings and cooperating indicia, symbols, words, and numbers and the manner in which they cooperatively function between the discs and the annular 4i members may be the same as that employed in conjunction with the embodiment of FIGURE 1.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the educational toy device of the present invention presents an economical and simplified approach to the manufacture of an educational toy device from inexpensive materials yielding a structure appealing to a child susceptible of use in conjunction with educational games as well as games of chance, and yet'a dew'ce which is adaptable to being embodied as a cutout or the like'in a premium item, for example in conjunction with a cereal box orthe like.

Although it will be appreciated that many changes and modifications may be made in the construction of the educational toy device of the present invention, as, for example, illustratively shown in FIGURE, 5, it is believed that such changes and modifications come within the scope and spiritof the invention as set forth in the 01- 7 lowing claims.

What is claimed is:v g V 1. A'n'educ'a'tiOn'aI my device comprising: a first annular fiat member; a second annular fiat member substantially congruent to' said first annular fiat "member and superimposed thereover; 'a first disc-shaped member; a second disc-shaped member, said second disc-shaped member being joined at oneedge to said first disc-"shaped member and folded back th'e'i'eover in'sup'e'r-imposed relationship, said super-imposed disc-shaped members being positioned between said firstand second annular members, said annular members defining central circular open portions of diameters greater than the widths of the annular material surrounding said open portions,'saidsuperimposed disc-shaped members being exposed through said open' portio'ns; cooperating'means between said annular members and said disc-shaped members rotatably 'journa lling'saiddisc-shaped member between said annular members; and, a plurality'of discrete markings on the exposed sides of said disc-shaped membersand on the exposed sides of said annular members designed to be, respectively, aligned with each other, according to the positioning of i said disc-shaped members within said annular members for playing games of chance and educational matching games. ,7 V V 2. An educational toy device, according to claim 1, and'means locking said first and second disc-shaped members together.

3, An educational toy device, according to claim l,

markings on said disc-shaped members about the peripheral portions thereof designed to underlie said annular shaped members; and, means on said annular members defining at leastrone window for yiewing given markings of said peripheral portions of said disc-shaped members.

4. An educational toy device comprising: a first annular fiat member; a second annular flat member'substantially congruent to said first annularmember and superimposedthereover; finger tabs projecting from said first annular member and said second annular member, said fingertabsdesigned to be aligned with eachother also in super-imposed relationship; 'a pair of disc-shaped members locked together and disposed between said first annular 'member and saidsecond annular member, each annular member defining a central circular open portion of diameter'greater than the width of the annular material surrounding said open portion, said 'pairof discshaped members being exposed through-said open portion; cooperating means between said annular'me'mbers and said disc-shaped members rotatably journalling said a pair of disc-shaped members between said annular mem or bers; a plurality of discrete'markin gs on said pair of discshaped menibers on the exposed sides thereof and on the exposed sides of said annular shapedmembers designed, respectively, to be aligned with each'other in accordance withthe positioning of said disc-shaped members within said annular shaped members.

5. An educational toy device, according to claim 4, further including means locking together said annular members comprising a tab extending from at least one References Ciied by the Examiner of said members and a slot provided in another of said UNITED STATES PATENTS members whereby said tab may be inserted through said 1,247,104 11/17 Foster 129 1 Slot and locked therem' 2 415 849 2/47 Ru ell 116133 X 6. An educational toy device, according to claim 4, 5 2833068 5/58 P 40 113 in which said cooperating locking means comprises tabs ar er projecting from the exposed faces of said disc-shaped FOREIGN PATENTS members, said tabs being designed to engage the inner 407,078 3/34 Great Britain diameter of said annular shaped members to lock said disc-shaped members within said annular shaped members 10 RICHARD PINKHAM Pmmary Examl'wr' for rotatable journalling therein. DELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner. 

4. AN EDUCATIONAL TOY DEVICE COMPRISING: A FIRST ANNULAR FLAT MEMBER; A SECOND ANNULAR FLAT MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY CONGRUENT TO SAID FIRST ANNULAR MEMBER AND SUPERIMPOSE THEREOVER; FINGER TABS PROJECTING FROM SAID FIRST ANNULAR MEMBER AND SAID SECOND ANNULAR MEMBER, SAID FINGER TABS DESIGNED TO BE ALIGNED WITH EACH OTHER ALSO IN SUPER-IMPOSED RELATIONSHIP; A PAIR OF DISC-SHAPED MEMBERS LOCKED TOGETHER AND DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID FIRST ANNULAR MEMBER AND SAID SECOND ANNULAR MEMBER, EACH ANNULAR MEMBER DEFINING A CENTRAL CIRCULAR OPEN PORTION OF DIAMETER GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE ANNULAR MATERIAL SURROUNDING SAID OPEN PORTION, SAID PAIR OF DISCSHAPED MEMBERS BEING EXPOSED THROUGH SAID OPEN PORTION; COOPERATING MEANS BETWEEN SAID ANNULAR MEMBERS AND SAID DISC-SHAPED MEMBERS ROTATABLY JOURNALLING SAID PAIR OF DISC-SHAPED MEMBERS BETWEEN SAID ANNULAR MEMBERS; A PLURALITY OF DISCRETE MARKINGS ON SAID PAIR OF DISCSHAPED MEMBERS ON THE EXPOSED SIDES THEREOF AND ON THE EXPOSED SIDES OF SAID ANNULAR SHAPED MEMBERS DESIGNED, RESPECTIVELY, TO BE ALIGNED WITH EACH OTHER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POSITIONING OF SAID DISC-SHAPED MEMBERS WITHIN SAID ANNULAR SHAPED MEMBERS. 